Everyday Life of a Wife, Mom, Scrapper and wanna be photographer!

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Lulu is getting into the Christmas spirit! I couldn't resist wrapping this tinsel around her and taking a few photos. She tried to resist, but I had treats! After two snow days the girls will be back to school tomorrow, yay. We had tons of snow, snow that I had to shovel. It figures we would get TWO storms (in two days) while LaVaughn is away. I was hoping that all the work shoveling would boost my Fitbit steps, I worked up a dripping sweat-and felt cheated in the end! Here are a few photos from the past few days...

Friday, February 22, 2013

Lulu makes our little family complete! She is doted on by all of us-I like to let everyone know that Lulu loves me the most. I am the one that she comes to when she wants water(always from the bathroom sink), to eat, or when she needs to potty. She knows I am the one she can count on-the others would let her starve, lol!

Monday, February 11, 2013

It has been a long-long time since I have done a layout. For my TCD dt blog post today I thought I would do a layout-to ease myself back into that side of my creativity, lol. I knew I wanted to have a few hearts popping off my page-so I stitched them vertically down on my page. I went from 8.5x11 to 12x12 by adding the white pattern paper-I had intended for this to be a 8.5x11! But it didn't feel right so I went bigger. I used TCD's Stationary Noted line for this page-a perfect line for Valentine projects.

Keisha, is a few years I follow your blog your creations are so gorgeous. I like your style! Please could you tell me the name of Martha's punch (heart with love inside)? I don't know where to buy it! Thank you. Giuli

Thursday, February 07, 2013

This year I wanted to make all of my Valentine decorations-and I did! These potted hearts I did last weekend-the larger hearts were meant to be a album...I had to find ways to cover the ring holes in them. They also came covered with canvas. I have been trying to use the red/pink ribbon for over a year-it's from a Loft shopping bag...and I have more!

.[new bow].

I made a pretty pink bow-tie for Lulu. I had to snap a photo of her wearing it, she is so chic. The next photo cracks me up-she LOVES peanut butter. Her tongue looks fake-but it's not...

Monday, December 10, 2012

The Saturday after Black Friday LaVaughn and I went tree shopping-there is nothing like a real tree! We have grown tired of the fake tree we have had for the past 4 years, and it was time to go back to buying real trees for Christmas. The smell is amazing-and they just look better. Yeah, I hate the mess and trying to keep them watered-argh(LaVaughn really keeps it watered)! Lulu keeps hitting the tree with her tail when she is looking out the window, and needles are constantly falling from that...and a few ornaments.

[around the house]

I can't stop adding to the decorations! I had to get this pine cone wreath and a few more vintage ornaments-which I love dripping from the mirror. I have been a bit obsessed with taking photos of everything over the past few days. It's a great way for me to polish up on my photography-I have been learning some new tips from some great photography pins. I struggle with sharpness & noise-but when I find a spot with perfect light I am truly excited. It has been driving me batty not being able to get a clear, sharp, and bright photo of the vase with the branches & hanging pine cones/icicles-I have taken HUNDREDS of photos of just that...and from every angle. I just don't get why I am not getting the results I want, lol!!

Hello Caligirl...I love and hate Tyson's area...love the shopping, hate the traffic/construction!!! I was there 3x's last week doing some Christmas shopping. All that stuff was from Target! I was so shocked to see that there was still a few items left-they had marked it down a couple weeks before. I think what I found was probably backstock that was missed-lucky for me! Because it wasn't there a couple days before that-trust me...I am there way too often hoping for a deal!!

Kiesha, your home is so gorgeous! I just love it- should totally be on HGTV! And it makes me even more giddy to know that you are a bargain shopper, too! Love awesome clearance sales and sweet deals!!! Thanks so much for sharing your beautiful home and great finds with us! --Nitasha

Nitasha...thank you so much!! I am a total bargin shopper-if it is not on sale I won't buy it(period). I love to clip coupons and keep a stash of them in my purse at all times. I have even created a monster-my husband...LaVaughn is always asking me if there is a coupon or code or sale. And he gets a bit put-off if I don't have any extra discounts, lol. I used to love the outlets-but now they have turned into cheap quality product made for outlet stores-so I don't buy the stuff that they have TONS of in stock. I believe the more I save the more I can buy;-)

I want to paint the office, so I tried my sample out. This color is really for the family room, I am sick of the blue in there. I am thinking of painting the family room & the office the same color...they are both the brightest rooms in the house and can take this deeper grey...

Keisha, these are beautiful! Do you mind if your layouts are pinned to Pinterest? I get so much inspiration from your layouts, but I do want to be respectful. Love the shipping tag flag! I think you are probably responsible for everyone buying tags today!

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

OMG, this dog is a mess! Lulu needs to get in at least 23hrs of sleep because her life is really rough. She is doted on all day by all of us...special treats, bones and walks (mostly by LaVaughn). She prefers her water straight from the bathroom faucet, and you cannot say walk, ball, treat, or bone-unless you can commit to those words! Lulu has 4 beds in various rooms through the house; this is her in my studio. Wearing a new crocheted scarf, I use girly colors to show she is a girl-but people still ask!

She is the sweetest dog; she will lick you to death. Just in case you're wondering, this is not a watchdog (these photos are not misleading). The worst thing you can say about Lulu is-she SHEDS everywhere. The shedding drives me crazy.

She was a shelter dog, found in a field at 8wks(?). The shelter said she was a Beagle mix-I never saw Beagle in her. I have always thought she was more Lab...Mira swears Boxer. She has more of a Lab temperament, very good with kids.

Keisha,I have a quick question for you. Have you ever used the Slice Fabrique Design Cards? I've never heard of them until tonight and I know you're kinda the Slice guru lol So I figured I'd ask you for your opinion on them. Are they the same as the other design cards, meaning do they only cut fabric or can they be used with cardstock? Your feedback is greatly appreciated.:)

Hey Heaven...The Fabrique cards were designed for fabric projects. I have used them to cut cardstock & it worked for me. *I* have used both types of cards in both machines without a problem-but regular Slice cards with detailed images might not cut well with fabric. I hope that made sense!!

Aya said...

Hi Keisha,

Our dog is the spitting image of your beloved Lulu. We got her from a local shelter here in Texas. She was found wandering as well, but she was several years old when we adopted her over 5 years ago.

Our dog is the best dog in the world - everyone says so. She has a wonderful temperament and she's great around kids, adults, and other dogs. After a few years, we decided to get her DNA tested to see what breed mixture she contains. Ours is half yellow lab, part Chow, and the rest is an unknown mix. Your Lulu is definitely at least half yellow lab. Just thought you might want to know! :)

Hi Aya...It's so funny you say Lulu looks like your dog. Lately, I have seen so many dogs that look just like her-which I find weird since she is a mix of stuff, lol!! We really want to have her tested to see what her mix is-one day. She is just as sweet as you dog...there was a baby over this weekend and all Lulu wanted to do was lick her in the mouth! The neighborhood kids love her-she sits to let them rub her.

A few days ago I crocheted Lulu a scarf! When I first learned to crochet (years ago)-I only remember one way of doing it. So I went to Crafty Minx and watched a few of her videos for some new techniques. I went with a simple pattern and Martha Stewart's new yarn to make a quick doggie scarf...

I am still playing with my tags & embossing. Trying to keep the posts coming & blogging something!! We had a great Christmas & New Year-now it's time to pack-up the decorations,sigh. The house looks so bare when it all comes down. Now I am off to doing some cleaning, later!

q and a

Merry Christmas, Keisha! I have been a follower of your blog ever since China. Your style is great! I have a few slice questions: what cartridges do you have in your collection? Which one(s)you use a lot? What's your favorite and why? I love your slice die cuts but don't know which you use when you post your work. Please tell which with a layout/card/craft. Thank you so much!

Hey Lori...Yikes, let's see I have 22 cards...I have all the Christmas cards & Halloween cards; I love the cards with words & expressions. And if it has cool butterflies, I HAVE to have it-Paper Reverie, Vintage Findings, Jungle, Just Chillin-all have the best butterflies and are my top favorites. Paper Reverie also has leaves that I LOVE. Paper Reverie & Vintage Findings have a great BEE shape that I love to use. Noteworthy & Wedding I use most for flowers-Wedding has great letters & words too. Fall Back To School is a top card-great letter/number fonts and shapes. Mix & Mingle has lots of letter/number fonts.

I use Paper Reverie, Vintage Findings, and Just Chillin most of all-and if you see a butterfly, bee, bird, leaves or words on one of my pages-it was done with one of those cards.

Original is definitely what your work is! I love it, I will admit I do stalk your blog but it's mainly to see your beautiful home decor. It is the complete opposite of mine Merry Christmas and thank you for sharing your talent with all of us. You inspire me!

Keisha, I simply love everything you create. Your style is so pretty. If I may ask, can you please show us some of your storage ideas on things like how you store unmounted rubber stamps?? That would be so cool. Also, how do you store your bulky scrap layouts? Love your blog, def one of my top favs.

Hello Janice...I keep my clear/unmounted in a canvas storage basket. And I plan to keep my bulky/odd sized pages in a linen storage box from Restoration Hardware. Right now I put them in clear plastic bins.

I'll try to post a photo of the stamp storage later this week, thanks!!!!!